Page 4 of Cursed Fox

It would appear Wes the grump was back. This was the man I was used to dealing with. The man I knew how to handle.

"Could've fooled me."

"Nancy," Wes growled, and I chuckled. It always made my day to rile him up.

Lex, on the other hand, just stood there with his brows pinched together as he looked back and forth between Wes and me.

"Are you going to be cooperative and let Lex help you?"

I looked at the man in question and frowned. I wanted to say no. I wanted him to go back to Willow Creek and stay far away from me. I had the feeling Lex would be detrimental to my physical well-being.

But then I remembered Jimmy and the problems he was facing. Wes couldn't help, but Lex could. It didn't matter how attractive I found the man, my kids would always come first. This time was no exception.

So, with a sigh, I answered. "Yes, I'll let him help."

Lex's green eyes locked with mine and I wondered if I had just made the biggest mistake of my life. Because that look held nothing but heartbreak.

CHAPTER THREE

Lex

What the hell was this feeling?

The moment I laid eyes on Nancy, my heart picked up in rhythm and the need to protect her flooded through me. The only other time I had felt this kind of connection with another human being was Olivia.

It made no sense. Olivia was innocent. A young girl with a shared trauma. I understood why I felt the need to protect her.

Nancy was nothing like Olivia, and based on the way she went toe-to-toe with Wes, she didn't need my help. And yet the need to make sure she was safe was strong.

I tried not to think about the fact that it might have something to do with how attractive she was. Nancy was my age or close to it, with short jet-black hair and expressive green eyes. Her jeans hugged her curves in all the right places, and I wished her loose top was tighter so I had a better view of a waist I could hold on to.

I preferred my women with meat on their bones, and Nancy was that to a T. It was why I couldn't give her more than a quickglance. If I hadn't stopped myself, I would've spent too long looking over every perfect inch of her.

"Yes, I'll let him help," she said with reluctance.

I hadn't realized I'd been holding my breath waiting for her answer until the air whooshed out of my lungs. A huge part of me had hoped she’d stick to her guns and ask me to leave.

And then Wes dropped the bomb. "Good. Lex can stay with you while he's figuring out who's behind the threats."

"Excuse me?" There was that attitude again.

"What?" I spoke at the same time as Nancy.

"You're going to visit Jimmy, right?" Wes sounded way too cocky when he asked.

My head snapped to Nancy, who looked more than a bit guilty.

After several intense moments, she sighed. "How did you know?"

My friend scoffed. "I know you, Nancy. You've worked for me long enough that I know what you're going to do or say before it happens. Everything you've ever done has been for Jimmy and Jessie. There's no way you wouldn't go to your son with everything going on."

"Fine," Nancy admitted, although reluctantly based on her tone. "I was hoping to go to his place for a bit."

"When did you want to leave?"

I kept my mouth shut and listened to the conversation. I was intrigued by their relationship. Wes normally wasn't this tolerant of people, so it was interesting to see the exchange.

"Today, if possible. I can take my laptop and work remotely. Missy can hold down the fort here. It's not like you need me in the office, even if it is easier for me to holler down the hall when you fuck something up in my system."

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